The Tales of a Professional Hockey Player

Chapter 34: Fish Tank

~Ben~

I saw the announcement for tonight's reading when I was researching ideas for my own "Fish Tank move." It was only written: For the real reading enthusiasts, a surprise VIP reading." Tickets were starting at five hundred dollars, but the profits went to the Nick Traina Foundation. Right then, I knew I had to get them. Of course, me being only a few weeks until the event, there were only a few tickets left, and let's just say that they were not cheap. But I didn't care. I had just signed an eight-hundred-thousand-dollar contract, I could easily spend two thousand for Eleanor. It's only when I googled Nick Traina that I knew who was going to be reading. Danielle Steel is Nick Traina's mother. She started this foundation after he committed suicide. It all just added up. I had no idea how big Danielle Steel was, but I recognized the name from a few books I saw Eleanor read. I was excited. I knew it would please Eleanor and it would show her that I was paying attention.

When she decided to stay in BC and left me alone in New York, I almost threw the tickets away. I was about to, but I saw the note I had written when I planned tonight's events. "Make Eleanor happy. For once in your life, think about her." After that, I decided to give her the tickets no matter what would happen between us. At least, she would be happy, even if she wasn't with me. But seeing her face when she saw Danielle Steel, I am happy we were able to go together. She looked so amazed, so genuinely happy that I knew I made the right choice when buying the tickets. I couldn't have scored higher.

"I love you," she said at the start of the evening. She told me she loved me. I have no words to describe what that did to me. I couldn't listen to what Ms. Steel was saying. I was lost in my own thoughts. Anything can happen now that those words left her mouth.

We are now having dessert. The reading ended halfway through the main course. Ms. Steel has been walking in the dining room, going to every table ever since. When she came to ours, Eleanor couldn't speak for the first two minutes. I had to nudge her twice before she even said hello.

"The first romance novel I read was Five Days in Paris. I was seven and I haven't stopped," she finally said as she shook hands with the author. They talked for a few minutes until the security guard told Ms. Steel she had to continue her tour. She signed an advanced copy of the book she read before giving Eleanor a kiss on each cheek. Eleanor has been floating ever since. The only words coming out of her mouth were a variation of "can you believe it?"

"There's something I need to tell you," I say as she was about to take a bite of her chocolate cake. There's one thing I planned on telling her tonight and if I don't do it now, I know I won't. And I need to tell her now. She scrunches her brows. "I rented a house." Her fork falls from her hand to hit her plate loudly. The tables around us turn around to see what caused the clinging sound that probably resonated through the entire dining room.

"When?" Her eyes are wide.

"Today, actually. I visited the house on Colvin Drive for the second time two days ago and I made an offer. I got the answer today. They accepted it." I try to sound less happy than I really am until I know how Eleanor feels about me moving to Garden City.

"That's great, Ben. That was the house with the backyard and the new kitchen, right?" I nod. We visited that house together last week, and one of the main reasons why I made an offer on it was Eleanor's reaction when we walked in. She immediately started gushing over the hardwood floors and about the size of the rooms. "It's a step-up from my Queen's apartment. I am happy for you," she adds, reaching for my hand across the table.

"Thank you. And do you remember the great thing about this house?" I wiggle my eyebrows and it makes her laugh. "I can move in when I want since the owners have already moved in their new house, so no more hotel for me." I prove my point by showing her the keys I hid in my jean's back pocket. She smiles again.